The Sona experience
Being the only representative from my newspaper, and since I could not tear my body in half, I spent the whole morning at the rallies and the Batasan in the afternoon.
Even if I smelled like last week's garbage after everything, for once, I felt proud of myself. I did not wish for this 'career' -- haha i have to use that word (and it was more of my mom who 'pushed' me to be a 'journalist'), I decided to give it a shot.
It's not bad at all -- the running around to chase politicians, having that split second of getting star(?)struck but you realize that you have to talk to them just to come up with a story.
There's also the fact that being new in this 'career' (there it goes again), I don't really know half of the issues surrounding those people. hell, i don't even know half of their names. so what i did was squeeze and force myself into the throng of reporters and under the huge cameras (and cameramen) of the biggest television stations. I would strain to hear what they were saying and stretch my hand out to direct my recorder to the person's mouth. that was the only time i knew what their issues were.
too bad i couldn't get into the plenary hall. I was there already but the security person saw that my ID had no sticker on it so we were forced out. darn.
i don't want to share my opinions on what the president had to say. but after listening to everything, i didn't feel that i missed much by not being able to go inside the hall. most of the action happened outside.
what frustrated me was the whole arrivals part -- it was like the oscars red carpet. i mean yeah, you had to dress appropriately for the event but posing for more than a few seconds for the camera? come on. people outside can't even afford clothes and shoes. i'm sure Filipinos -- especially those who are having a hard time surviving -- will be even angrier because of all the pretension:
then there was my stupidity --not noticing that the president was already arriving right behind me. i think it was because people didn't really cheer loudly, or at all. manny pacquiao, on the other hand, received applause and chanting from the people.
and i'm sorry i just had to have this picture taken:
and this:
'till the next one!
Even if I smelled like last week's garbage after everything, for once, I felt proud of myself. I did not wish for this 'career' -- haha i have to use that word (and it was more of my mom who 'pushed' me to be a 'journalist'), I decided to give it a shot.
It's not bad at all -- the running around to chase politicians, having that split second of getting star(?)struck but you realize that you have to talk to them just to come up with a story.
There's also the fact that being new in this 'career' (there it goes again), I don't really know half of the issues surrounding those people. hell, i don't even know half of their names. so what i did was squeeze and force myself into the throng of reporters and under the huge cameras (and cameramen) of the biggest television stations. I would strain to hear what they were saying and stretch my hand out to direct my recorder to the person's mouth. that was the only time i knew what their issues were.
too bad i couldn't get into the plenary hall. I was there already but the security person saw that my ID had no sticker on it so we were forced out. darn.
i don't want to share my opinions on what the president had to say. but after listening to everything, i didn't feel that i missed much by not being able to go inside the hall. most of the action happened outside.
what frustrated me was the whole arrivals part -- it was like the oscars red carpet. i mean yeah, you had to dress appropriately for the event but posing for more than a few seconds for the camera? come on. people outside can't even afford clothes and shoes. i'm sure Filipinos -- especially those who are having a hard time surviving -- will be even angrier because of all the pretension:
then there was my stupidity --not noticing that the president was already arriving right behind me. i think it was because people didn't really cheer loudly, or at all. manny pacquiao, on the other hand, received applause and chanting from the people.
and i'm sorry i just had to have this picture taken:
and this:
'till the next one!